Tough to Gauge Host's Reward

Germany May Profit,
As Lower Travel Costs
Bring in More Fans

By

George Frey

Updated May 3, 2006 12:01 a.m. ET

FRANKFURT -- Economists agree that low-cost airlines and an expected strong performance from European teams will bring more money to Germany than previous soccer World Cups have to Europe, but they can't agree on how much more.

Carsten-Patrick Meier, an economist with the Institute of World Economics at the University of Kiel, predicts the monthlong tournament, which starts June 9, will add less than one-tenth of a percentage point to 2006 German gross domestic product, pushing it up to around 1.6%. A Postbank study...